Payam Saadai Appointed Chief of Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery at UC Davis Health
Key Insights
Payam Saadai has been named chief of the Division of Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery at UC Davis Department of Surgery.
Saadai is an internationally recognized expert in fetal surgery, pediatric colorectal disorders, and robotic surgery, and also leads the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center.
He contributed to foundational research that led to the ongoing $15 million CuRe Trial, the first-in-human stem cell trial for fetal repair of spina bifida (search).
Payam Saadai, professor of clinical surgery and fellowship-trained pediatric and fetal surgeon, has been appointed chief of the Division of Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery in the UC Davis Department of Surgery. The appointment positions a surgeon-scientist with deep institutional roots and international recognition to lead the division into its next phase of growth.
Saadai also leads the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center and serves as director of the Pediatric Colorectal Center at UC Davis Health (search), reflecting a broad clinical portfolio that spans fetal intervention, pediatric colorectal disorders, and robotic surgery.
"Over the past decade, Dr. Saadai has demonstrated the thoughtful leadership, clinical excellence, and innovative research that define our Department of Surgery," said Diana Farmer, chair of the UC Davis Department of Surgery. "His ability to build transformative clinical programs, advance groundbreaking research, and mentor the next generation of surgeon-scientists positions the Division of Pediatric, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery for continued growth and national prominence."
A Career Built on Innovation
Saadai first arrived at UC Davis Health (search) in 2011 as the inaugural research fellow in the Center for Surgical Bioengineering. During this fellowship, he contributed to research that ultimately led to the ongoing $15 million CuRe Trial — the first-in-human clinical trial evaluating stem cell treatment for fetal repair of spina bifida (search). This landmark study represents a significant advance at the intersection of regenerative medicine and fetal surgery.
Following his research fellowship, Saadai completed his surgical training at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, followed by specialty fellowship training at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He returned to UC Davis Health (search) in 2016, where he has since built his clinical practice and expanded the institution's pediatric surgical programs.
Saadai is board certified in both general and pediatric surgery and has earned international recognition for his expertise in fetal surgery, pediatric colorectal disorders, and robotic surgery.
Vision for the Division
"I've been fortunate to spend the last decade building my clinical practice at UC Davis alongside incredible colleagues," Saadai said. "My vision is to support every member of our division as we build destination surgical programs that families across the region and the country seek out for exceptional, compassionate care."
The appointment signals UC Davis Health (search)'s commitment to advancing pediatric surgical care through leadership that combines clinical excellence with a robust research background. Under Saadai's direction, the division is expected to continue its trajectory toward national prominence in pediatric general, thoracic, and fetal surgery.